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TESTED: GITZO SYSTEMATIC SERIES 3 KIT Gitzo raises the bar £1443 gitzo.com
Gitzo’s latest Systematic tripod kit refines a legendary formula with improved handling and outstanding capacity There are some things that are worth spending extra money for, not because they come from a well- known brand but because they simply perform incredibly and never let you down. Gitzo tripods are one such case. I’ve been a Gitzo fan since I Verdict Overall rating: 9/10 A top-quality tripod kit that is a thing of beauty and will last for decades. The head is a huge upgrade to older models. Fast to set up but needs accessories to be truly video-ready invested in my first ever set of high- end sticks over two decades ago. The quality was so good that I invested in a larger version for a heavier camera, then a traveller model for packing light followed by a mid-size, self-levelling one to use for video when I started
shooting movies on DSLR. I still use that one a lot. Next came the 100th anniversary compact version and two different sized monopods. I have loved them all, although I have often preferred the Arca-Swiss heads for stills shooting because of a slight edge in adjustability over the Gitzo versions. I thought the Gitzo tripods could not be improved but having used the Systematic Series 3 tripod kit, which has three-section legs and comes with a Series 4 centre ball head, I know I was wrong. The brand has raised the bar in every way, and the head is leaps ahead of the older versions. The head – officially dubbed the GH4383LR – is heavy-duty and ideal for large telephoto lenses or cameras with lots of accessories. It is engineered to facilitate ultimate smoothness and precision, using a large, super-smooth, coated, hollow-sphere ball. Though less than 1kg, the head holds a 30kg load, even in extreme conditions and temperatures ranging from -30 to 70°C. There is a friction control to enable precise adjustment and a bubble level to help maintain a true horizon. A 360° independent panning lock provides smooth movement in a fluid cartridge and a short-rotation fast lock assists in getting the shot locked off quickly. It’s not a dedicated fluid video head but rather the smooth movement that
Specifications
Tripod material Carbon fibre Base 60mm flat Head Series 4 centre ball head Head release Lever Maximum load 28kg Working height 23.5-177cm Legs Three-section single tube carbon fibre Leg lock Twist locks Feet Rubber, spiked optional
Closed length 79.5cm Total weight 2.94kg
means it can pan with a nice action. If you mainly use your tripod for stills or locked-down video shots with the occasional pan, it’s a fantastic bit of kit. The top-plate clamps on with a lever lock that is easy to use and won’t come loose. Every detail is top class. The head complements Gitzo’s Series 3 Systematic tripod legs, which are designed to hold long lenses and heavy cameras. The GT3533LS hits the sweet spot between minimal weight and maximum durability and stability. The head and legs come together as a kit, but there are lots of available Gitzo versions so you can mix and
match in terms of size and features. I’ve always been a fan of the Systematic family as they are Gitzo’s most stable tripods while still being modular – so you can mix and match if you want a centre column or certain video head. Not using a centre column means the tripod is able to go very low to the ground, too. And the leg locks work perfectly so that everything can be adjusted quickly and still doesn’t slip. It’s quality Italian engineering that looks good, performs well and gives lasting value.
SYSTEM ADDICT Once you try the new Gitzo tripod kit it’s hard to imagine using anything else
TESTED: POLARPRO SHIFT DIOPTRE SHORTSTACHE Close-up convenience
£249
polarpro.com
Specifications
Using screw-in dioptre filters to get closer to your subject is not a new idea, but the funky filter brand Polarpro has made them sexy and relevant again. By teaming up with Shortstache, the online brand of well-known adventure shooter Garrett King, Polarpro’s new set of three filters comes complete in either threaded or Polarpro Maglock fitments and with a trademark green Shortstache case. They are designed so that your shots retain the look of your original lens, as they offer very little decrease in light transmission, are colour-neutral and combat fringing. The price varies according to size but the threaded, 82mm set is £249. All sets come with +2, +4 and +8 dioptre filters which go onto the front of your lens and reduce its minimum and maximum focus distance. So, you can fix on a filter for superfast macro-style shots without swapping lenses. They also decrease the maximum focus distance to around 50cm for the
Verdict Overall rating: 9/10 For instant close-ups without changing your lens, the Polarpro kit is a valuable addition to your kit bag, ideal for either stills or video. The strongest dioptre offers a unique look, too Material Optical-grade, multi-coated, cinema-series glass in aerospace aluminium rim Fitment Threaded 49, 67, 77, 82, 86 and 95mm, Polarpro Maglock fit Grades +2, +4 and +8 dioptre Transmission 94% Weight with case From 98g threaded, 140g Maglock (depending on filter size)
TRIPLE TREAT The Polarpro kit comes with three close-up filters (image above) to help you achieve the right level of magnification
+2, 25cm for the +4 and 12.5cm for the +8, so you can’t leave them on all the time. They also can’t be combined, as there would be significant vignetting. We tried them on a full-frame Sony A1 with a 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Sigma lens set at 70mm and its minimum focus distance to shoot details of a watch. The +2 and +4 ones
get you in a lot closer, but the strongest version adds a unique look of its own as the depth-of-field can be so shallow. While the two less powerful dioptres are very good at fending off flare, the +8 has a much larger front surface so flares and creates unusual effects at the edge of the frame. Purists may not like it, but it is a more creative option.
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